Talking About ADHD

You Know Your Kid Has ADHD When…

“…You send her upstairs to get dressed, and, 20 minutes later, she’s sitting in her pajamas on the floor, examining her socks.” Read more of our readers’ funniest “kid ADHDisms,” highlighting the lighter side of living with ADHD.

An adhd child laughing after hearing a funny adhd story.
An adhd child laughing after hearing a funny adhd story.
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You Tell Us

We asked readers to complete this sentence "You know your kid has ADHD when..." Parents shared the attention deficit symptoms that they can't live with...and couldn't live without. See how many of these "ADHDisms" in these funny ADHD stories apply to your child.

A child is doing flips on the court during his basketball game.
A child is doing flips on the court during his basketball game.
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Doing Flips

Your son is the only child doing cartwheels...on the court during his basketball game. At least he's having fun!

A child gets distracted staring at her colorful socks.
A child gets distracted staring at her colorful socks.
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Garment Inspector

You send her upstairs to get dressed, and, 20 minutes later, she’s sitting in her pajamas on the floor, examining her socks.

[Click to Download: The Free Guide to Your Child’s Unique “ADHDisms”]

A girl with ADHD can't spell unless she's jumping on the bed.
A girl with ADHD can’t spell unless she’s jumping on the bed.
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Super Speller

She can’t spell—unless she’s hanging upside down, bouncing on a trampoline, or spinning in an office chair.

A young boy with ADHD asks a million questions.
A young boy with ADHD asks a million questions.
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Rapid Q+A

In the span of five minutes, your child asks about a million questions — all about totally different topics. You barely get the answer out before he's halfway through asking the next question!

Father holds his hyperactive girl in the air. Climbing the walls isn't just a metaphor in their house.
Father holds his hyperactive girl in the air. Climbing the walls isn’t just a metaphor in their house.
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Wall Climber

Climbing the walls” isn't a metaphor in your home.

Mom checks the lost and found for her child's belongings, and the child has no idea she's missing anything.
Mom checks the lost and found for her child’s belongings, and the child has no idea she’s missing anything.
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MIA

You check the lost-and-found box each Friday and leave with a bag filled with your child’s belongings and she has no idea anything was missing.

[Click to Read: Never Punish a Child for Behavior Outside His Control]

A little boy makes a silly face — it's always comedy hour around him.
A little boy makes a silly face — it’s always comedy hour around him.
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Comedy Hour

You think you live with a mini Jim Carrey or Robin Williams.

ADHD boy has an orange in his mouth.
ADHD boy has an orange in his mouth.
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Oh, Boy!

People around you smile kindly or say things like, “He sure is all boy” or “You have your hands full.” They have no idea!

A girl works hard on her homework, then forgets to turn it in.
A girl works hard on her homework, then forgets to turn it in.
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Homework Struggle

She spends hours on a homework assignment (with constant encouragement/nagging) and then leaves it at home on the day it is due. Or she manages to bring it to school and still forgets to turn it in.

Parents examine a washing machine, after their daughter managed to get stuck in it.
Parents examine a washing machine, after their daughter managed to get stuck in it.
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Laundry Explorer

Your child manages to get herself stuck in the washing machine—a top loader!

A girl can hold a 2-way conversation on her own because she's so chatty.
A girl can hold a 2-way conversation on her own because she’s so chatty.
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Chatty Cathy

Your child can hold a two-way conversation…on her own.

A father pushes his child in the supermarket — even grocery shopping is an adventure.
A father pushes his child in the supermarket — even grocery shopping is an adventure.
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Shopping Adventure

You go shopping, and she simultaneously swims and flies through the aisles of the store. Every outing becomes an adventure.

Missing and mismatched socks are common for kids with ADHD.
Missing and mismatched socks are common for kids with ADHD.
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Missing Socks

You find your son's dirty sock…on his bookshelf.

Parents love their daughter, despite feeling like she doesn't listen when spoke to.
Parents love their daughter, despite feeling like she doesn’t listen when spoke to.
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Center of Attention

Her name is mentionedcalled, and screamed 10 times as often as the others in the house.

You realize that your child will succeed in life in ways you haven’t, because when all you want to do is press the snooze button in the morning, he’s ready to get up and get going!
You realize that your child will succeed in life in ways you haven’t, because when all you want to do is press the snooze button in the morning, he’s ready to get up and get going!
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Path to Success

You realize that your child will succeed in life in ways you haven’t, because when all you want to do is press the snooze button in the morning, he’s ready to get up and get going!

[Read This Next: Positive Charge: How to Reinforce Good Behavior]